If one assumes that a region mirrors a global economy, then the province’s performance points to a quick post-pandemic recovery. Not only did Alicante’s largest firms rebound, they also moved past the losses of the prior year, lifting many from red numbers to solid footing in their respective sectors.
The takeaway comes from the 2021 balance sheets of the province’s top one hundred companies, as reported by Infocif, a trusted database maker that compiles updated data from millions of firms and enables custom rankings and personalized reports. This coverage is augmented by the consolidated accounts of the 34 biggest groups in the region, though some notable entities are absent, such as Marcos Automoción, which has not yet filed consolidated accounts. These data points provide a clear snapshot of the province’s corporate landscape at that time. (InfoCif)
Collectively, these one hundred large firms generated 12,039 million euros in 2021, a 10.6% rise from the previous year and not far from the 12,206 million posted by Alicante’s top hundred in 2019. If Sabadell’s figures—the largest Alicante-based company—are excluded to avoid distortion, the recovery appears even stronger, reaching 7,696 million euros and a 17.8% gain. (InfoCif)
Across the board, 76 of the 100 individual companies and 30 of the 34 consolidated groups for which data are available showed revenue growth, a sign of rebound after the near-standstill of much of 2020. In parallel, the recovery translated into tangible gains for the region’s workforce and profitability. The number of loss-making companies halved, dropping from 12 in 2020 to six in 2021, driven by a revived tourism sector and improved activity in private health services. Baleària, for instance, swung from a 17.2 million euro loss to a 45.4 million euro profit, illustrating the turnaround in transport and related services. (InfoCif)
Overall, the combined profits of Alicante’s largest companies reached 781 million euros in 2021, roughly ten times the 73 million recorded in 2020. When Sabadell’s numbers are removed from the equation, the total still improves dramatically, rising from 166 million in 2020 to nearly 453 million in 2021, closely mirroring the 463 million seen in 2019. (InfoCif)
Job trends also reflect the shift. If Sabadell’s payroll is excluded, the top one hundred Alicante firms employed an average of 45,591 workers in 2021, a 3.2% decline from 47,110 the year before. Yet, excluding that single institution, most other firms increased payrolls by an average of 7.9%, rising from 23,652 to 25,521. (InfoCif)
Alicante now features more bars and more real estate activity than before the pandemic
Turning to sector highlights, Sabadell Bank SA continues to lead the ranking, focusing on its core banking activities in Spain, with sales of 4,343 million euros and a modest drop from the prior year, yet improved overall results. Sprinter, the group behind a rapid expansion of sports retailers across the country, shows strong momentum with nearly 400 million euros in 2022, a figure likely to be surpassed as the business grows. (InfoCif)
In third place sits Baleària, the shipping company that rose to 384 million euros after a difficult year marked by travel restrictions. In the individual rankings, Baleària ranks fourth among the accounts that have already been disclosed. Masymas Supermarkets, led by Juan Fornes Fornes, saw a slight turnover dip from 338 to 328 million as the lockdown-driven boom eased. Other agri-food names like Hiperber, Aceitunas Cazorla, Almendras Llopis, and Chocolates Valor also reflect the pandemic’s toll and subsequent recovery. (InfoCif)
From a consolidated perspective, the fourth place goes to a group of companies owned by the Tires Soledad family, with a total turnover of 355 million euros. (InfoCif)
Looking ahead, the ranking also underscores the importance of sectors such as telecommunications, with players like Wewi Mobile and Finetwork posting solid turnovers, and Aire Network from Elche reporting substantial activity. Plastic and related materials, along with various industrial groups, continue to adapt and climb positions, supported by a broader regional business revival and a renewed investment climate. (InfoCif)
In summary, the first year post-reform landscape reveals a resilient Alicante economy, where the largest firms contribute to a broader recovery across employment, profitability, and regional activity. The data indicate that even after a challenging year, the province demonstrates capacity to rebound and sustain growth through diverse sectors and robust corporate performance. (InfoCif)